Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25
First Branch.

This Branch met at 3 O'Clock, twelve
members responding to their names at roll
call. There being no business upon the
table q short recess was taken to enable
the Second Branch to get some stuff
through. The members drifted across the
corridor and listened to the debate upon
the having ordinance with good deal Of
interest. As soon as the ordinance passed
the lower house, and had been sent over,
the Branch reassembled, and went to work
at the document.
Mr.. Myles first obtained the floor. He
smoke at length in opposition to the pend
inc measure, and. concluded by moving to
indefinitely postpone. Mr.. Buchanan fol-
lowed in favor Of the measure He thought
the great maiori.y of the citizens would he
satisfied to see the Board Of Public Works
spend the money. The members of the
Hoard were honest and efficient. 1t was
the custom of business men to laugh and
ieer at Council for paving the suburbs and
allowing the business part OF the city to 90.
Mr.. Myles replied to this, saying that
for the past seven years he had been dill
gent in looking after the streets of the
business part of the city, but 1t was about
time to pay u little attention to some other
streets. He characterized the attempt TO
mt power in the hands of the Board OF
Public Works as tyrannical.
Right at this point the Mayor
called Mr.. Myles TO the chair ana
proceeded to address Council. He said he
could not sit still, as citizen and tax
payer. and see this sort of thing 20 on
without entering Il protest. An ordinance
had been passed through both Branches by
a two-thirds vote, and ought to be allowed
to stand. He then proceeded to make an
earnest plea for South Main street. For
the past six years property there had
been steadily depreciating while the many
large business houses once lining the street
had gone. He cited one instance where a
piece of property, once renting for >, OOO,
now brought but $500, and he believed
that, should the present tenant leave, 1t
could not be rented again for more than 300.
He alluded to the threat of the Board TO
resign, and said one Of the members had
been elected after the passage OF the Ordl-
nance, and knew the conditions attached
to the Office. If the members were deter
mined to resign let them 80. Other gen
tlemen, no doubt, could be found to take
their places He alluded to the import
ance of having the streets leading To the
engine houses paved, and said the safety
of the city might turn upon this matter
alone. South Main street was the only
outlet uptown for the best fire engine the
city had. In conclusion he said he hoped
the pending ordinance would be Killed
and never heard Of again.
Mr.. Schultze was astonished to see q
Mayor come down from his seat as presld'
ing officer and argue n proposition before
Council. Such action was unprecedented.
The speaker had not intended to say q
word, but since he was on his feet he
wanted to call attention to the streets Of
his section of the city. They had goose
ponds in the streets down there, and many
alleys were regular swampS. The Fifth
ward had surely had it's share of paving.
MIR. Mylcs thought Mr.. Schultze was
trillc mgrateiul. His ward had heen
taken In out of the cold, fed and clothed
and they ought to be satisfied, especially
as Mr.. Hobbs was member of the board
of Public Works. He would see thai the
ward did not get left.
This sort of thing went on for while
longer, and then a vote was reached on
the motion tie indefinitely postpone. If
was agreed to, ayes s, nays Il, us follows
Ayes-Messrs. Delbrugge, Farrell, Garvin,
Haller, Handlan, Happy, Kenney and
Myles-S. NOes-MessrS. Buchanan, Ia
ris, Schrebe, Schultze, Tracy and Ulrlch
g.
The miscellaneous business sent over
from the Second Branch was then agreed
| to. and this Branch adjourned.